Customer Reviews

The Maker's Mark: the Dream Guitar Sessions

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have all of Tony's CD's, including those where is featured strictly in an accompanying role. This CD ranks at the top of not just his CDs but at the top of this genre. Superb selections, production, and most of all, playing.

5 stars and highly recommended!

Tony McManus
"The Maker's Mark: The Dream Guitar Sessions"
(Compass Records, 2009)
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Delicious, contemplative, gentle guitar instrumentals from this Scottish master musician. McManus gathers music from a variety of sources, mostly Celtic and English folk tunes, but also contemporary material and songs from African and Eastern European sources, all handled with great soulfulness and skill. The album is also a showcase for the guitars that McManus plays, an assortment from some fabled music store in North Carolina (Dream Guitars, no less...) whose individual luthiers are even credited in the liner notes, and the guitars themselves are pictured and described within. If you like mellow acoustic guitar records to chill out to -- old John Renbourn and stuff like that -- then this disc is a doozy. Definitely recommended. (DJ Joe Sixpack, Slipcue Guide To World Music)

Tony McManus is without question one of the worlds best fingerstyle guitarists playing what could be termed celtic music on solo acoustic guitar. If you enjoy what you hear on the samples I'd encourage your purchase and if you fall in love with the style of guitar playing and this music I'd recommend Celtic Guitar Summit : Groovemasters vol. 9and also Steve's solo album The Angels' Portion. Another talented player is Jim Tozier Celtic Guitarand if you enjoy that Cd and are a guitarist he teaches it all in this fine book Acoustic Masterclass. As you can tell I love guitar and celtic music played on acoustic guitar is one of my passions! You've come across one of the best with Tony McManus...buy now..listen often!

Tony is a wonderful guitarist. What he does is incredible. You've got to hear it to believe it.

Fantastic playing - this guy is sensationally talented. If you like this check out his earlier stuff - you cant go wrong. "Emigrants farewell" from his first album is achingly beautiful. Cant really tell the difference between all the different guitars he uses (except for the nylon string and the indian sitar style)one but interesting to read the liner notes.

Guitarists: It will drive you mad. Get it anyway. It's a pleasant madness! I am reviewing this from the audio samples. What I have heard matches and exceeds every album Tony has released so far.

I will be picking up a copy. He is coming to my area in April. I don't know if I can wait to buy a copy from him personally. I'll try.

The immediate and lingering impression one receives when listening to this superbly produced CD is one of quiet contentment. It provides welcome company whilst writing, reading, indulging in pleasant conversatiion and is most soporific combined with a good whiskey in the late evening. All tracks are ably played by a master of his craft and the over-riding Irishness of the melodies quitely captivates the discerning listener. The only flaw is to be found in the repetitivess of the melodic mood...a little more variety would have earned this collection a well-deserved fifth star.